As they shape their season-opening roster, the Chargers acquired their second veteran player this week via a second avenue, and they could very well seek at least one more player yet another way in the next few days.

After trading a conditional draft pick to the Dallas Cowboys for receiver Patrick Crayton on Friday, the Chargers and the rest of the NFL teams on Saturday will pare down their rosters.

Before the 3 p.m. deadline to have the roster down to 53, the Chargers could trade away Vincent Jackson, the player Crayton helps to replace. However, there was no word Friday of any movement regarding Jackson.

Regardless, following the mass cuts, the Chargers will likely look to forge depth at offensive tackle by signing a free agent who was released by another team.

Crayton was the second player in four days to join the Chargers from a Texas team.

On Tuesday, the Chargers claimed cornerback Fred Bennett off waivers from the Houston Texans. Bennett has yet to practice with the Chargers but intercepted a pass in their preseason finale Thursday at San Francisco.

In Crayton, the Chargers get a player who caught 126 passes over the past three seasons but had become disenchanted with his role in the Cowboys’ crowded receiving corps. He had in the past four months asked to be traded and to be released.

“It’s real good,” Crayton said. “I’m ready to have a good time on the West Coast. I’m going from one Pro Bowl quarterback to another Pro Bowl quarterback.”

While he is not a former Pro Bowler like the receivers General Manager A.J. Smith brought in via trade in 2004 (Keenan McCardell) and ‘07 (Chris Chambers), Crayton did not cost the Chargers a second-round pick like Chambers or a third and a sixth like McCardell. The Chargers will give the Cowboys at least a seventh-round pick, which would become a sixth-rounder if Crayton, 31, catches 40 passes this season.

The Chargers had been eyeing Crayton, a 2004 seventh-round pick who has 16 touchdown catches since 2007. Once matriculated into the offense, he could fit in as the No.2 wideout opposite Malcom Floyd. Crayton’s arrival also means Buster Davis might be able to more fully concentrate on being a receiver, as Crayton could move into the role of second punt returner behind Darren Sproles. Crayton had returns of 73 and 82 yards for touchdowns last season.

“With the receiving corps the Cowboys have and the addition of first-round pick Dez Bryant, we felt there might be a possibility Patrick would be available,” Smith said. “We explored that and we are happy it worked out. Patrick is a very good veteran receiver who also brings his punt return experience and production with him. We feel his familiarity with our system will get him up to speed quickly and contributing right away.”

The move could signal the end to Josh Reed’s time in San Diego. The Chargers signed Reed in June, and he likely would have stuck due to his experience. But the Chargers are leaning heavily toward defense as they manipulate their roster and might keep just Legedu Naanee, Floyd, Davis and Crayton as their wide receivers.

It is likely that at least one of the two undrafted rookie receivers (Seyi Ajirotutu and Jeremy Williams) will make the eight-man practice squad.

By today it will be known, too, whether undrafted rookie running back Curtis Brinkley sticks after a preseason finale in which he totaled 100 yards from scrimmage. And the Chargers could also go with just two quarterbacks as they attempt to find a way to maximize the numbers on what they consider a deep defensive pool – particularly on the defensive line, at linebacker and perhaps cornerback.

While the Chargers' decision makers mull their cuts – having left the office Friday pretty much knowing who was staying and going – Saturday's moves have a good chance to not be the final ones the team makes before its Sept. 13 opener at Kansas City.

As Crayton helps fill out a receiving corps but doesn’t replace Jackson alone, picking up a veteran tackle would similarly help only with a depth void caused by Pro Bowl left tackle Marcus McNeill staying away from the team due to the same contract dissatisfaction as Jackson.

As of now, the Chargers’ only game-ready tackles are presumed starter Brandyn Dombrowski and Tyronne Green, who began playing tackle a little more than a month ago.